Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy reviews
24th June 2010
Speaking in the House of Commons, Peter Aldous calls on the Government to ensure that it gets the best possible deal for British farmers and fishermen from the forthcoming reviews of the CAP and CFP.
Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman): I will be publishing my Department's priorities shortly in our structural reform plan, but I can share with the House that they are: to support British farming and food and encourage sustainable food production; to enhance the environment and biodiversity to improve the quality of life; and to support a strong and sustainable green economy, resilient to climate change.
Peter Aldous: Fishing and farming are important industries in my constituency of Waveney in north Suffolk, and the forthcoming reviews of the CAP and the CFP provide a great opportunity to improve the prospects of those two industries. Can the Minister and her team assure my constituents that they will stand up for British farmers and fishermen and show the leadership to get them the best possible deal?
Mrs Spelman: I can assure my hon. Friend that the coalition Government are engaging effectively and constructively with the EU in the UK's national interest. I hope that the early evidence of the invitation to the commissioner, which was accepted last night, will demonstrate that we are taking the concerns of British farmers and fishermen right to the heart of European matters.
